The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-05
An Open Letter on the Educational
institutions of the State.

EDIToR CLARION: / beg space IN the
columns of your paper TO say a ie"
THINGS in relation to the educational In
stitnfions of our State. / confess L am
proud of all of them, and could most
earnestly wish that all our people coulo
appreciate their Importance ana tneil
excellence. No State IN the Union can
boast of better educational INSTITUTIONS,
under State patronage, than our own
State; and all our people shouia eAui'
in this important fact. Even the cor,
ored people of the State are PROVIDED
with institutions of a high order, ana
thew are making praiseworthy advance
ment in intellectual development: But
in NV present communication, L snail
confine myself to some statements IN re
lation TO our institutions under the
patronage of the State, tor the white
bows and girls of the State: Ana De,
gin with the youngest, because IL Is
located in our city. and because l know
more about its workings than DO aoou'
the others. -
ssThe Institute and College for the
education of white girls of Mississippi
has lust opened its third session, under
the most favorable auspices In the cor
lege dormitory, there are IL young Ia
dies, and | am informed by the fresl-
dent. that applications for accommoda-
tions in the dormitory were received 70
the number of 465 young ladies, from
different parts of the State, and were
declined solely for the want OF room
About one hundred and fifty young Ia
dies are compelled TO seek boarding
places outside of the College. 1t is very
| fortunate, however, that excellent &C
commodations, in very respectable fam
lilies, are afforded TO the young ladles
from abroad, who could not be accom-
modated in the dormitory OF the Col
lege. The whole number of pupils en-
rolled already is $50.
1t is a great pity that provision Is not
made for the accommodation OF at least
six hundred of the girls of the State In
the dormitory of the College. And
can but hope that there Is Interest
enough in the advantages which this
College affords to the white girls OF the
State, amongst our intelligent people
generally, to influence the Legislature
at its very next session, to provide for
| this exigency.
have been a frequent visitor to this
| institution ever since its first session wa:
opened. | know all its workings, from
the kitchen and dining room, to the in
structions impaired in every department
IS 10 CoIlaya and as one who has had
experience in teaching in the select
school, in the high school, and in State
University, / am prepared to say, that
everything connected with the College
meets my most unqualified appreciation
| r i III IL 20 az u
| material improvement, in any deplrt-
ment of the College work. l wish thai
every citizen of the State could visit
this institution, and witness, as | have
done repeatedly, its admirable working;
| in all its departments. | am sure that
they would be compelled to say, with
| the Queen of Sheba, when she behelo
i the wisdom of Solomon, "The half was
not told me"
DR.. Jones, the President of the Col
| lege, is, emphatically, the right man in
the right place. l doubt whether bet
| ter selection for the place could have
| been made, if the Board of Trustees had
had the whole of the learned world
| from which to make their choice. Oul
only fear is that the onerous duties OF
his station may ultimately so impair his
health as to compel him to retire from
his place. May the good Lord aver;
such calamity
1t would afford me much pleasure to
speak individually of the peculiar quail
| fications of all the teachers for the posi-
lions which they occupy; but | cannot
ask the space in your columns for such
| a service at present. Suffice it to say,
that all the teachers have been carefully
selected by the President and the Board
| of Trustees, on account of their unques-
toned qualifications for the particular
duties to which they haYe been assigned.
Mrs Edwards, the house-keeper, is a
| lady peculiarly adapted to her position
and under her intelligent and excellent
management, there is no danger but
that the wants of the body will be
amply provided for.
The health officer, Mrs. II. B. Kells,
whose duty it is to oversee the health
and all the lodging rooms, and every
thing pertaining to the comfort and
welfare of the girls, is a lady in the
right place. In word, | do not see
how the College, with its present facili-
ties, could be improved.
And is it not astonishing that some
persons should be opposed to this insti-
tution-an institution which has reflect
ed the highest credit upon the State,
and which is doing incalculable good to
the white girls of the commonwealth?
Having occupied so much space in my
notice of the Industrial Institute and
College for the girls of the State, must
defer what | may have to say about the
other STATE institutions to another
time.
l trust l am sufficiently well known
throughout the State to justify the be-
lief that my statements in relation to
the /. |. and G. will be taken as reliable
Yours, respectfully,
THoS. G. TEAsDALE.